Drilling through red bricks

chewed · 06-04-2021 01:43PM #1

hi, looking for some advice. I'm trying to drill 4 holes into the outside red brick back wall on my house (to mount an auto rewind hose unit).

I'm struggling to drill the holes and don't appear to be making much progress. I have a proper drill (on hammer) and think I have the correct masonry drill bits, but wanted to check if there's anything else I should be doing?

blueskys · 06-04-2021 01:45PM

Ideally you should use an sds drill here, your drill might not be powerful enough..

06-04-2021 01:50PM

I know some will of the old boys here will disagree but you need an sds drill for any sort of masonry.

Is it one of the the big hose lock ones ?
I have one and it was a nighmare to get it solid.
the have it set up for scabby little screw holes but the thing is getting pulled on all the time.

CoBo55 · 06-04-2021 01:51PM

What's happening? Is the drill slipping in the chuck? Have both holes stopped at the same depth?

GreeBo · 06-04-2021 01:52PM

Yeah SDS will eat through it, but any masonry bit also should, how old is the bit, it might have lost its cutting edge?

mickdw · 06-04-2021 01:55PM

Ya an sds drill would fly through but that should do it too.
Tighten the crap out of the chink when you put bit in and make sure its spinning the right way, not reversed

CoBo55 · 06-04-2021 01:58PM

mickdw wrote: »

Ya an sds drill would fly through but that should do it too.
Tighten the crap out of the chink when you put bit in and make sure its spinning the right way, not reversed

Surely he hasn't the drill turning in reverse:D..please say it isn't so.... Have mercy on that poor old chink:D

Luke774 · 06-04-2021 01:59PM

GreeBo wrote: »

Yeah SDS will eat through it, but any masonry bit also should, how old is the bit, it might have lost its cutting edge?

Is a SDS drill better then a hammer drill ?

10-10-20 · 06-04-2021 02:01PM

What depth are you getting stuck at? 3 /4 cm? Both the same?
Does the drill sound like it's in hammer-action mode (do you have the noise reverberating all over the house?), or could it be worn out?
Typically if you are getting stuck, it's the bit rather than the drill.
If that bit is getting stuck, use a smaller bit as a pilot and then go in with that ~10mm bit afterwards.

CoBo55 · 06-04-2021 02:02PM

Luke774 wrote: »

Is a SDS drill better then a hammer drill ?

An sds drill is a hammer drill, the drill bits have slots along the shank that hold them in the chuck so they can never slip in the drill. The biggest problem I've had with my sds drill is stopping yourself drilling right through the wall!!! Best money you'll ever spend.

GottaGetGatt · 06-04-2021 02:04PM

chewed wrote: »

hi, looking for some advice. I'm trying to drill 4 holes into the outside red brick back wall on my house (to mount an auto rewind hose unit).

I'm struggling to drill the holes and don't appear to be making much progress. I have a proper drill (on hammer) and think I have the correct masonry drill bits, but wanted to check if there's anything else I should be doing?

That's not an SDS bit, off to Hardware store you go.

chooseusername · 06-04-2021 02:09PM

GottaGetGatt wrote: »

That's not an SDS bit, off to Hardware store you go.

Not much point putting an SDS bit in that drill!

loyatemu · 06-04-2021 02:12PM

CoBo55 wrote: »

An sds drill is a hammer drill, the drill bits have slots along the shank that hold them in the chuck so they can never slip in the drill. The biggest problem I've had with my sds drill is stopping yourself drilling right through the wall!!! Best money you'll ever spend.

it's not just the more secure bit that makes the difference, SDS also has a longer hammer action, it's pounding it's way into the wall much harder.

you can get a mains-powered SDS drill for €50, if you're drilling into concrete or brick on even a semi-regular basis, it's a good investment, there's no comparison with a regular hammer drill.

chewed · 06-04-2021 02:15PM

10-10-20 wrote: »

What depth are you getting stuck at? 3 /4 cm? Both the same?
Does the drill sound like it's in hammer-action mode (do you have the noise reverberating all over the house?), or could it be worn out?
Typically if you are getting stuck, it's the bit rather than the drill.
If that bit is getting stuck, use a smaller bit as a pilot and then go in with that ~10mm bit afterwards.

Yes, about that depth and it's not going any further. On the left side there are sparks as well, so am hitting something very solid in the brick!

I might get some new drill bits anyway as the ones I have are very old.

I'll also look into getting a decent SDS drill.

listermint · 06-04-2021 02:18PM

For this application, just get a new masonry bit. You should not need to buy an SDS to drill through red brick. Pissing money away. My cordless bosch hammer would eat this up and its most certainly not SDS. A good bit and make sure hammer is activated properly.

GottaGetGatt · 06-04-2021 02:25PM

chooseusername wrote: »

Not much point putting an SDS bit in that drill!

A ball ache

GreeBo · 06-04-2021 02:26PM

Mad question, but are you 100% they are solid red bricks and not just facers over something else?
(Either way a new drill bit, SDS or otherwise, should get through it, an SDS drill + bit will just make it faster.)

Alun · 06-04-2021 02:29PM

I was thinking the same, I've drilled holes in normal red brick with a cordless drill in hammer mode with no problems at all. The fact that he says he's getting sparks from one hole makes me think there's something else behind them.

Cerco · 06-04-2021 08:44PM

chewed wrote: »

Yes, about that depth and it's not going any further. On the left side there are sparks as well, so am hitting something very solid in the brick!

I might get some new drill bits anyway as the ones I have are very old.

I'll also look into getting a decent SDS drill.

I would be concerned if I saw sparks coming from red brick on the wall of the house. Best to try and find out what it might be. Perhaps others on here would hazard a guess?
An SDS drill is capable of some damage so be careful.

Bluefoam · 06-04-2021 09:54PM

I've put a few holes in red bricks recently and in the past. Standard cordless hammer drill and the cheapo masonry bits that came with it 5 years ago still doing the job...

I reckon I'd get through tough concrete with a new high quality bit... SDS would be useful going through a larger depth, like if you were drilling from an inside wall through to the outside...

fred funk }{ · 06-04-2021 11:01PM

Is the drill in hammer mode or just drill?

Hammer make distinctive loud fast hammer noise. What you have should eat into that brick no problem.

NewClareman · 07-04-2021 05:09AM

Cerco wrote: »

I would be concerned if I saw sparks coming from red brick on the wall of the house. Best to try and find out what it might be. Perhaps others on here would hazard a guess?
An SDS drill is capable of some damage so be careful.

I agree - hacking at this with an SDS drill could cause serious damage. I would suggest that the op tries to find out more about the build, before continuing. It is highly likely that this is facing over block, or concrete. He could also be hitting support steel work.

The concern here is that regular red bricks are not strong and facing bricks are mainly for the finish. I would be wary of mounting a hose housing, or anything else that could exert force, on either. A far safer approach would be to align the mounting holes with the mortar between the bricks, and drill through that. If you must drill through brick you should drill holes towards the centre, rather than near the edge, as shown. That's your best chance of not splitting the brick, especially when force is applied.

07-04-2021 07:35AM

NewClareman wrote: »

I agree - hacking at this with an SDS drill could cause serious damage. I would suggest that the op tries to find out more about the build, before continuing. It is highly likely that this is facing over block, or concrete. He could also be hitting support steel work.

A far safer approach would be to align the mounting holes with the mortar between the bricks,

Is this going to be another how to mount a tv on a stud wall thread ?
Hacking & serious damage with a 6mm hole?
Mounting into mortor joints?

The answer to this mans problem is in the first reply

CoBo55 · 07-04-2021 09:24AM

BrownFinger wrote: »

Is this going to be another how to mount a tv on a stud wall thread ?
Hacking & serious damage with a 6mm hole?
Mounting into mortor joints?

The answer to this mans problem is in the first reply

Exactly, buy, borrow or hire a decent drill and bit, drill required amount of holes, end of thread.

07-04-2021 09:34AM

I recently bought a Bosch Easyimpact 550W impact drill for 60 euro at Woodies. Superb drill that requires a mains energy supply, so none of that hauling batteries back and forth for a charge. The drill can cut through a lot more than butter!

The drill could easily appear in a modern take on the Jules Verne novel: Journey to the Centre of the Earth!:pac:

NewClareman · 07-04-2021 09:43AM

BrownFinger wrote: »

Is this going to be another how to mount a tv on a stud wall thread ?
Hacking & serious damage with a 6mm hole?
Mounting into mortor joints?

The answer to this mans problem is in the first reply

I'm sure you're an expert tradesman, and know when, and how, to use SDS drills.

However, the OP is obviously less experienced, given he came to this forum looking for advice. As I'm sure you know, an SDS drill is not required to drill through red brick. The problem is whatever he is hitting behind it. He could go at this hammer and tongs, with a powerful drill, and cause damage.

Have a good day.

looksee · 07-04-2021 09:50AM

I'm so glad I drilled all the holes for vine eyes in the garden wall, and put shelves up in the house and all the other stuff I've done recently, before reading that I needed to replace my bog standard Black and Decker with the slightly dodgy chuck and the Lidl masonry bits.

listermint · 07-04-2021 09:51AM

NewClareman wrote: »

I'm sure you're an expert tradesman, and know when, and how, to use SDS drills.

However, the OP is obviously less experienced, given he came to this forum looking for advice. As I'm sure you know, an SDS drill is not required to drill through red brick. The problem is whatever he is hitting behind it. He could go at this hammer and tongs, with a powerful drill, and cause damage.

Have a good day.

I think its more sensible not to ask people to spend money they dont need. not everyone has endless budgets. Any drill with a hammer action should cut red brick. The Bit at the front being the number one concern.

GreeBo · 07-04-2021 09:59AM

BrownFinger wrote: »

Is this going to be another how to mount a tv on a stud wall thread ?
Hacking & serious damage with a 6mm hole?
Mounting into mortor joints?

The answer to this mans problem is in the first reply

Not if he is getting sparks it isnt, if the bit & drill can make a 1cm deep hole then they can make a 5cm deep hole too, so there is something else going on.

Red bricks are a piece of piss to drill into.

the_pen_turner · 07-04-2021 10:03AM

What colour is the dust. If its red the whole way it's probably just crap bit or very hard brick or both. . It the red stopped and went grey it could be veneer stone

chooseusername · 07-04-2021 10:05AM

Could they be faced engineering bricks judging by the deep raked joints?

Drilling through red bricks

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